North Wales League

Two teams level on points and riding high in the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division lock horns today when champions Bangor entertain the ever-improving St Asaph (1pm).

With a number of potential match-winners on either side in this battle of second versus third, this really is one of those games which could go either way.

Bangor skipper Robbie Marshall knows his team must be on top form to overcome a strong visiting outfit captained by Will Ryan.

The citizens bounced back from a surprise loss to Denbigh in their last home match by comfortably seeing off Chirk last weekend.

Marshall said: "Hopefully we can take the positives from last week and take it into Saturday's tough fixture.

"Given a couple blips this season already, we are now playing catch up and can't afford many more sub-standard performances."

The captain was referring to the aforementioned defeat against Denbigh, as well as the recent 15-0 caning at the hands of neighbours Menai Bridge, who head the table by a handy 16-point margin.

Marshall added: "We are all looking forward to a tough game on Saturday and know we have to be on our game to be victorious against a talented St Asaph side.

"However, provided we play to the standards we try and set ourselves we can beat anyone. It's about gaining the consistency of last season again and that's what we are striving to do."

Bangor welcome back top run-scorer David Winter, as well as all-rounder Johnny Wells.

Elsewhere today, table-toppers Menai Bridge will look to keep their unbeaten start to the campaign on the boil when they visit Hawarden Park.

One of Bridge's big strengths this season has been the ability of several team members to produce the goods with both bat and ball.

Brymbo will seek a return to victorious ways when they entertain winless bottom side Chirk.

Connah's Quay have made an uncharacteristically poor start to the summer, but might fancy their chances of recording a first win of 2018 when they welcome Gresford to Central Park.

Last weekend saw the Deesiders show shades of a return to form when losing at St Asaph in a game where skipper Martin Burger struck a stunning 124 off 89 balls in a 27-run defeat.

Denbigh are home to Llandudno, who have risen to fourth after last Saturday's highly impressive 10-wicket hammering of Pwllheli, where all-rounder Dan Evans was again on fire.

Pwllheli were rocked by that tanning at Tudno, but will aim to get back to recent strong form this afternoon when they take on visitors Northop at Parc Bodegroes.

Liverpool Competition

Colwyn Bay skipper Sion Morris is confident of getting a win against bottom side New Brighton this afternoon, even though he has very recent painful memories of a loss to the Wirral team.

Only last weekend, the Bay were beaten by the Wallasey area outfit in the Ray Digman Trophy, going down by 86 runs in the first round clash at Rake Lane.

However, that result is a rare high for New Brighton in what has been an otherwise disastrous opening to the Liverpool Competition 1st XI ECB Premier League campaign, which sees them 33 points adrift at the basement and without a win in eight matches.

Bay lie ninth in the standings after an inconsistent beginning to the season with five losses in their first eight fixtures.

Morris said: "It's a big game for us with them being bottom. We lost to them in the cup last Sunday but will be confident of getting a win on Saturday."

One plus from last Sunday's cup reverse was Bay's Sri Lankan import Dineth Thimodya finally coming good with 54 runs off 43 balls and also taking three wickets.

"Our overseas player got a good half-century, so we’ll be hoping he comes good over the next few games," added the Colwyn captain.

Will Higginson comes in for Huw Roberts today, while in the bowling department, Jamie Moorhouse replaces Gareth Goodson.

In the 1st XI First Division, Prestatyn will have high hopes of a positive result when they welcome basement boys Burscough to Beach Close.

Second-place Northop Hall are home to Spring View in a 2nd XI Second Division encounter at Smithy Lane.